Air-conditioning system with timer device

• US 6,223,992 B1
• Filed: 12/11/1998
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rinnai Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Rinnai Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Kanda, Akira, Yasui, Shigeaki
• Primary Examiner(s): WAYNER, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US09/209,263
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 236/46 R, 165/267, 219/492
• US Class Current: 236/46.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time

Abstract

An air-conditioning system has an air-conditioning unit and a controller which includes a timer setting unit for establishing data including at least one time zone in the time of one day and an operation status in the time zone for the air-conditioning unit. The controller also has a memory for storing the data established by the timer setting means, and operation control unit for controlling operation of the air-conditioning unit according to the data stored by the memory. The timer setting unit includes a first setting unit for establishing the data altogether for all days of the week, a second setting unit for establishing the data for a plurality of groups divided from the days of the week, and a third setting unit for establishing the data individually for the days of the week. The first, second, and third setting units are selected by the timer setting unit to establish the data. Each time new data is established by either one of the first, second, and third setting units. The timer setting unit corrects the data stored by the memory into the new data and stores the new data in the memory.

Claims

1. An air-conditioning system comprising:

an air-conditioning unit;

timer setting means for establishing data including at least one time zone in the time of one day and an operation status in the time zone for the air-conditioning unit;

memory means for storing the data established by said timer setting means; and

operation control means for controlling operation of said air-conditioning unit according to the data stored by said memory means;

said timer setting means including;

first setting means for establishing said data altogether for all days of the week;

second setting means for establishing said data for a plurality of groups divided from the days of the week;

third setting means for establishing said data individually for the days of the week; and

selection means for successively selecting said first setting means, said second setting means, and said third setting means, and entering a mode for waiting for the establishment of data by a next one of said first setting means, said second setting means, and said third setting means when the establishment of the data by one of said first setting means, said second setting means, and said third setting means is finished,

the arrangement being such that each time new data is established by either one of said first setting means, said second setting means, and said third setting means, said timer setting means corrects the data stored by said memory means into the new data and stores the new data in said memory means.

2. An air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein said timer setting means comprises means for overwriting the data stored by said memory means with the new data.

3. An air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein said operation status includes at least a room temperature setting and information indicating whether said air-conditioning unit is to be operated or not.

4. An air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein said groups include a weekday group and an off-day group.

5. An air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein each of said first setting means, said second setting means, and said third setting means comprises means for establishing a plurality of time zones in the time of one day.

6. An air-conditioning system according to claim 5, wherein each of said first setting means, said second setting means, and said third setting means comprises means for establishing start-of-operation times respectively for said time zones, each of said time zones extending from the start-of-operation time of the time zone to the start-of-operation time of the next time zone.

7. An air-conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying said data, said timer setting means comprising means for enabling said display means to display any of the data established by said first setting means, said second setting means, and said third setting means, and correcting any of the data established by said first setting means, said second setting means, and said third setting means, when the establishment of the data by said first setting means, said second setting means, and said third setting means is finished.